Exercise Unarmed 1635

Editor: This small etching, "Exercise Unarmed" by Jacques Callot, depicts three figures in what appear to be military poses. I’m curious about the attire; what significance do you see in their distinctive hats and the way they carry themselves? Curator: Callot masterfully uses costume as a symbolic language. Notice how each hat is slightly different, suggesting individuality within the regiment. The feathered plumes, historically symbols of bravery and status, could also hint at vanity, a common theme in military life. What emotional feeling do you get from the scene? Editor: I sense a bit of staged formality, like a dance or a ritual. It’s not overtly aggressive, but very controlled. Curator: Exactly! The absence of actual weapons is potent. These gestures evoke an older time, before gunpowder, highlighting the performative aspect of power, the dance before the duel. It invites us to consider what's masked by the ritual. Editor: So the piece is asking us to consider the symbols that reinforce historical memory? Curator: Precisely. A reminder of the performance of power. Editor: Fascinating! I see so much more in it now.